PHOENIX – Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took on one of Arizona’s toughest hiking challenges over the weekend, climbing the iconic Camelback Mountain in the scorching July heat—wearing his signature blue jeans.
Kennedy was joined on the trek by his son, William “Finn” Kennedy.
“With Finn atop Camelback in Phoenix this morning,” he posted on X at 11:30 a.m. local time on July 19, sharing a photo from the mountain’s summit.
Camelback Mountain, a beloved yet brutal Phoenix hiking destination, reaches 2,704 feet above sea level and is known for its steep elevation, rocky terrain, and full exposure to the sun. The City of Phoenix warns that its main trails are “extremely difficult” and should only be attempted by experienced hikers during ideal weather.
That didn’t stop Kennedy, 70, from taking on the climb with his son and two other young men.
Kyle Herrig, a Chandler-based health and fitness coach, spotted Kennedy ascending Echo Canyon Trail around 8 a.m.
“I did a double-take,” Herrig told The Arizona Republic. “Meeting probably one of the most influential health people in the country right now was kind of cool.”
Herrig said Kennedy’s classic outfit—a T-shirt and blue jeans—made him instantly recognizable.
“I looked at him and said, ‘You’re going old school today, huh? Rocking the blue jeans,’” Herrig recalled. “He laughed and said, ‘Yeah, that was a bad idea.’”
Despite the lack of an official excessive heat warning that day, Phoenix temperatures still soared to a high of 107°F. The National Weather Service cautioned that even without warnings, heat over 100°F poses serious risks.
“There’s still a moderate heat risk,” meteorologist Tom Frieders said. “It can be dangerous—even fatal—without the right precautions.”
Every year, dozens of hikers are rescued from Camelback Mountain due to heat exhaustion and injuries. The Phoenix Fire Department urges residents and tourists to avoid trails between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. during summer months.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to a request for comment on Kennedy’s hike.
Kennedy has long been a familiar presence in Arizona. He visited the state officially in April to promote his “Make America Healthy Again” campaign and criticized the role of ultraprocessed foods in the nation’s health crisis. He previously ended his independent presidential bid during a visit to Arizona, throwing his support behind Donald Trump.
He later returned to campaign with Trump in Glendale, where he made headlines after disclosing he was under investigation for collecting a whale specimen two decades ago.
As head of HHS, Kennedy oversees major federal health agencies including the CDC, NIH, FDA, and Indian Health Service. His weekend hike offered a symbolic—if sweaty—nod to personal wellness, though perhaps not in the recommended summer attire.
